{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T05:54:11Z","timestamp":1781589251945,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781568000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The postpartum period brings profound physical, psychological and social changes that significantly impact women\u2019s sexual health and relationship quality. Despite its importance for maternal wellbeing and family functioning, postpartum sexual health remains inadequately addressed in clinical practice and research. Self-esteem is a fundamental psychological resource often challenged by postpartum body changes and role transitions; however, it has received limited empirical attention regarding its association with sexual behaviors during this significant period. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with maternal self-esteem among Polish women, and to examine its associations with selected aspects of postpartum sexual functioning and behaviors. These specifically include the conscious decision to delay first intercourse and ongoing sexual activity frequency.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This cross-sectional study included 350 Polish women within 1\u201312\u202fmonths postpartum, who were recruited through online parenting forums. The participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, obstetric history and sexual behaviors. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, the Mann\u2013Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test with post-hoc and logistic regression analyses.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Self-esteem demonstrated strong associations with perceived childcare competence (\n                      <jats:italic>Z<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f6.08,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), sexual attractiveness (\n                      <jats:italic>H<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f57.89,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), and partner closeness (\n                      <jats:italic>\u03c4<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.23,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05). Women with higher self-esteem were significantly less likely to consciously postpone first postpartum intercourse (\n                      <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f30.60 vs. 28.10,\n                      <jats:italic>Z<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f4.35,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001) and reported more frequent sexual activity (\n                      <jats:italic>H<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f14.09,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.029). Independent predictors of conscious delay included perceived delivery difficulty (OR\u202f=\u202f1.55), postpartum sexual frequency (OR\u202f=\u202f1.14) and need for self-respect (OR\u202f=\u202f1.31).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings demonstrate that higher maternal self-esteem is associated with less recurrent conscious postponement of first intercourse and greater sexual activity frequency. Integrating support for maternal self-esteem into clinical practice and public health initiatives should be a crucial component of comprehensive postpartum care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1813933","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T05:39:03Z","timestamp":1781588343000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Maternal self-esteem and postpartum sexual health in Polish women"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Agnieszka","family":"Czerwi\u0144ska-Osipiak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Obstetric and Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk","place":["Gda\u0144sk, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wiktoria","family":"Rozmarynowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Obstetric and Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk","place":["Gda\u0144sk, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Krawczyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Obstetric and Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk","place":["Gda\u0144sk, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna Weronika","family":"Szablewska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Obstetric and Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk","place":["Gda\u0144sk, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jolanta","family":"Olszewska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Obstetric and Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk","place":["Gda\u0144sk, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2024.02.037","article-title":"Postpartum care: clinical considerations for improving genital and sexual health","volume":"296","author":"Graziottin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7597","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12247597","article-title":"Quality of life and sexual satisfaction in the early period of motherhood\u2014a cross-sectional preliminary study","volume":"12","author":"Florkiewicz-Danel","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e111","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sexol.2020.10.002","article-title":"Sexual satisfaction and intimacy during pregnancy and after childbirth","volume":"30","author":"Behzadipour","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sexologies"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17455057241302303","DOI":"10.1177\/17455057241302303","article-title":"Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"20","author":"Belay","year":"2024","journal-title":"Womens Health"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104259","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2024.104259","article-title":"Resumption of sexual activity after childbirth and its related factors in Spanish women, a cross-sectional study","volume":"141","author":"Artieta-Pinedo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"813","DOI":"10.1007\/s00404-022-06826-4","article-title":"Genital perception and vulvar appearance after childbirth: a cohort analysis of genital body image and sexuality","volume":"307","author":"Dominoni","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arch Gynecol Obstet"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1708248","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1708248","article-title":"The role of maternal age, education, birth experience and self-esteem in shaping anxiety before first postpartum intercourse","volume":"13","author":"Rozmarynowska","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1111\/jog.15088","article-title":"Factors associated with postpartum resumption of sexual intercourse among women in China: a retrospective multicenter study","volume":"48","author":"Fan","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol Res"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2761","DOI":"10.1007\/s00404-024-07494-2","article-title":"Comparative study of postpartum sexual function: second-degree tears versus episiotomy outcomes","volume":"309","author":"Fern\u00e1ndez-Fern\u00e1ndez","year":"2024","journal-title":"Arch Gynecol Obstet"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2021.103196","article-title":"Sexual health issues postpartum\u2013a mixed methods study of women\u2019s help-seeking behavior after the birth of their first baby","volume":"104","author":"O\u2019Malley","year":"2022","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"252","DOI":"10.1177\/10497323231209842","article-title":"\u2018Feeling ready\u2019: a feminist poststructural analysis of postpartum sexual health","volume":"34","author":"Ollivier","year":"2024","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12010038","article-title":"Breastfeeding vs. formula feeding and maternal sexuality among polish women: a preliminary report","volume":"12","author":"Szablewska","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"969","DOI":"10.1080\/07399332.2022.2083621","article-title":"The effectiveness of \u201cwomen\u2019s postpartum sexual health program (WPSHP)\u201d on Iranian women\u2019s postpartum sexual health: a randomized clinical trial","volume":"45","author":"Zamani","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Care Women Int"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"929","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2702.2011.03882.x","article-title":"Sexual problems in women during the first postpartum year and related conditions","volume":"21","author":"Acele","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Clin Nurs"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"588","DOI":"10.2307\/2529115","article-title":"Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences","volume":"26","author":"Wassertheil","year":"1970","journal-title":"Biometrics"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S31","DOI":"10.4103\/sja.SJA_543_18","article-title":"The STROBE guidelines","volume":"13","author":"Cuschieri","year":"2019","journal-title":"Saudi J Anaesth"},{"key":"ref17","first-page":"164","article-title":"Skala samooceny SES Morrisa Rosenberga \u2013 polska adaptacja metody","volume":"2","author":"\u0141aguna","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychologia Spo\u0142eczna"},{"key":"ref18","volume-title":"Sexual Health and its Linkages to Reproductive Health: an Operational Approach","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"973","DOI":"10.1037\/pspp0000156","article-title":"Self-esteem and relationship satisfaction during the transition to motherhood","volume":"114","author":"van Scheppingen","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Pers Soc Psychol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"532","DOI":"10.1080\/02646838.2021.1916452","article-title":"Well-being, self-esteem and body satisfaction in new mothers","volume":"40","author":"Hutchinson","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Reprod Infant Psychol"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-023-02567-x","article-title":"Posttraumatic stress symptoms and postpartum anxiety among palestinian women: the mediating roles of self-esteem and social support","volume":"23","author":"Bdier","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Womens Health"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"834040","DOI":"10.3389\/fgwh.2022.834040","article-title":"Depressive symptoms, and self-esteem in pregnant and postpartum Brazilian women","volume":"3","author":"Meireles","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Glob Womens Health"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1186\/s43043-020-00024-5","article-title":"Sexual satisfaction and self-esteem in women with primary infertility","volume":"25","author":"Zayed","year":"2020","journal-title":"Middle East Fertil Soc J"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1080\/14681994.2016.1263389","article-title":"The sexual function of women during puerperium: a qualitative study","volume":"32","author":"Mart\u00ednez-Mart\u00ednez","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sex Relatsh Ther"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1162","DOI":"10.1080\/13691058.2018.1543802","article-title":"Understanding women\u2019s postpartum sexual experiences","volume":"21","author":"DeMaria","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cult Health Sex"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"873","DOI":"10.1007\/s00404-017-4305-0","article-title":"Sexual activity and sexual dysfunction of women in the perinatal period: a longitudinal study","volume":"295","author":"Wallwiener","year":"2017","journal-title":"Arch Gynecol Obstet"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1177\/0163278709356187","article-title":"Psychometric properties of the Rosenberg self-esteem scale: overall and across demographic groups living within the United States","volume":"33","author":"Sinclair","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eval Health Prof"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"918","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-025-08084-z","article-title":"Partner involvement and emotional and informational support gaps as predictors of postpartum birth trauma symptoms: a multi-center cross-sectional study of 230 women at 42 days postpartum","volume":"25","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Pregnancy Childbirth"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1513","DOI":"10.1007\/s00192-016-3015-7","article-title":"Sexual activity and dyspareunia the first year postpartum in relation to degree of perineal trauma","volume":"27","author":"Fodstad","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int Urogynecol J"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e199","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2019.03.017","article-title":"Sexual health-related training of Canadian midwives and its association with practice outcome","volume":"33","author":"Byers-Heinlein","year":"2020","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.4103\/jehp.jehp_1839_22","article-title":"Development of an educational guide for postpartum sexual health promotion: the Delphi method","volume":"12","author":"Darooneh","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Educ Health Promot"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.whi.2021.09.002","article-title":"Early resumption of sexual intercourse after first childbirth and unintended pregnancy within six months","volume":"32","author":"Knutson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Womens Health Issues"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1025","DOI":"10.1089\/bfm.2022.0194","article-title":"Breastfeeding sexual lives of first-time mothers: a qualitative explorative study","volume":"17","author":"Kul U\u00e7tu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Breastfeed Med"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"587","DOI":"10.1089\/bfm.2018.0249","article-title":"Breastfeeding and sexual activity and sexual quality in postpartum women","volume":"14","author":"Alp Yllmaz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Breastfeed Med"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"882","DOI":"10.1111\/jog.14583","article-title":"Impact of childbirth on women\u2019s sexuality in the first year after the delivery","volume":"47","author":"Zgliczynska","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol Res"},{"key":"ref36","volume-title":"National Population and Housing Census 2021 Population. Size and Demographic-social Structure in the light of the 2021 Census Results","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104359","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2025.104359","article-title":"History of mental health problems moderates the association between partner support during childbirth and women\u2019s mental health in the postpartum period","volume":"144","author":"Tavares","year":"2025","journal-title":"Midwifery"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1813933\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T05:39:04Z","timestamp":1781588344000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1813933\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]]},"references-count":37,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1813933"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1813933","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]]},"article-number":"1813933"}}